How To Spice Up Your Living Room On A Budget

Monisha Iswaran 15/02/2017

Living rooms are where we relax after a long day of work, entertain guests and generally hang out with our family or housemates throughout the day. The last thing you want is to be spending heaps of time in a room that isn’t visually appealing or doesn’t fit your tastes. At the same time, you might feel as though a change of scene doesn’t warrant spending copious amounts of money. Here are 10 tips on how to spice up your living room, and make you feel as though you have a brand new space, without needing a huge budget to do so.

1. Work With What You’ve Got

Before you rush out and start buying new pieces, reassess what you already own. Chances are you already have a good number of high quality, aesthetic pieces of furniture and are just not satisfied due to the way you have them arranged. Or even if you did originally enjoy this arrangement, moving things around and re-orientating your furniture is the perfect way to feel as though you have a brand new room without spending a dime.

Remember to arrange seats in a flexible way such that the living room can be reconfigured into a social hub if you have a large group of people over. Also consider convenience in terms of mobility within the room, allowing spaces between pieces of furniture. You may want to experiment with classic symmetry, arranging in a diagonal fashion or simply whatever you haven’t tried before!

2. Fresh Floral Decor

Freshly cut flowers will add colour to your living room, and make you feel like it’s spring even if it’s miserable outside. This is an easy way to stop your interior from becoming too monochromatic, and the best thing is that flowers are easy to change or switch when you get tired of a particular look. Therefore, you can keep your living room looking fresh and fun all year round. Alternatively, if you don’t like the idea of using live plants and flowers, there are large selections of affordable fake flowers or even fruit that you can place around to brighten the inside of your home.

3. Add Terrariums For Something Unique

If you are looking for something out of the box, to differentiate your living room from others without having to spend a fortune, Sophie Kost from My Beautiful Abode suggests terrariums as an innovative idea:

“Terrariums are back in the spotlight and are a simple project to create. I know a friend who has created a terrarium by taking cuttings of succulents from friends gardens and created a “Friendship Garden”, which is gorgeous. By placing the terrarium in a beautiful vessel and styling it on your coffee table on a tray with a coffee table book and a beautiful candle, you have created a budget focal point for your living room.”

To find out more interior design and style tips check out Sophie on Facebook and Instagram.

4. Invest In Complementary Pieces

When you do actually decide to purchase new pieces, think about what you can add to your living room space, that will work well with whatever you already own. Rather than getting carried away shopping, have a clear plan before you head out. You may want to think in terms of the styles and patterns that you have the most of, and how you can add in a few new pieces to amp up your living room’s vibe. A few well-planned furniture purchases will turn out a lot better than multiple impulse buys! Make a clear plan of what exactly your budget is and what items you are allotting it to before you hit the shops.

5. Implement Some Mirror Magic

The simple investment of a mirror can completely spice up your living room, with only one addition to your space. Mirrors have the magical effect of creating an illusion that the room is larger and brighter than it is in actuality. Hanging a mirror on the wall also has the added effect of perking up an empty surface, as bare walls tend to look bland and result in your living room decor being lackluster.

Pick a mirror that is a unique, statement piece but still fits with the existing style of the room. Also consider positioning it very carefully in accordance with the seating arrangements and other pieces of furniture you already own.

6. Presentation Of Books

A stack of books can do wonders to add to the sophistication of a room. Another great thing about them is how easy they are to purchase, without being terribly expensive. You could even purchase some second hand books that would be perfect for the coffee table. There really is no limit to where you could place a small pile of material to be perused, and they are the perfect filler for a nook or cranny that just looks bare, without having to buy an expensive, useless ornament.

7. Colours And Focal Points

Never underestimate how much changing up the colours in a room can affect its overall look, by emphasising a certain aspect as the focal point or centre of attention. The good news is that this is one change you definitely don’t have to spend a lot of money on to accomplish. Allworth Homes and InsideOutside Design have teamed up to give you a couple of tips on how to do just that:

“Create one focal point in the room which captures all the attention. If you have a very neutral room of whites, greys and beiges - spice it up with one dramatic or bold colour as the feature. Whether it be a bold pillow or painting, use some colour to give it character. This is much more cost effective, using one focal point rather than having the whole room compete for your visual attention.

Change up the lounge and bedroom with different coloured pillows and wallpaper. This will change the whole dynamic of the room without any dramatic furniture purchases. Go for a mix of bold colours and patterns. Also add some different textures to the mix to have the perfect pillow family. Wallpaper can change up the room without even painting all the walls. Focus on a feature wall in the rom to be the main focal point.”

Just like with adding mirrors, adding a clock or two to your living room space can make a big difference with only a small adjustment. The greatest benefit of this is despite having to only pay for one object, you can completely spice up the feel of your living room and avoid having bare, boring walls. A statement clock can almost double as a piece of art, and there are a large range of different styles, colours and types that you are available on the market, most of which are within affordable price ranges. Not to mention there may be the added bonus of you becoming extremely punctual, with this added feature to your living space.

9. Change Up Your Curtains

Another simple change that can improve the atmosphere of your environment is to change your curtains, either the colour, texture or both. People often underestimate the effect that this aspect of a room can have, but switching up your blinds and curtains might be just the change you are looking for. Sometimes, certain curtain colours and styles can prevent your house from looking as chic and modern as you are aiming for. Use this feature as an opportunity for a pop of colour, and make your living room space more enjoyable. This does not have to be an expensive endeavour as there are a wide range of curtains on the market that offer very good value for what you pay, and will last you a long time.

10. Keep A Close Eye On Sales, Outlet Stores And Bargains!

Anastasia Dinos, a budget conscious designer from Mood Design, has some tips that she has used in her design process, that don’t break the bank:

“The key is to spread your filters wide and don’t be in a rush! Keep an eye out on sales and if you love it, buy it now! If unsure, don’t do it but be prepared to wait.”

Having designed her own living room on a budget, she mentions a few hacks she has made use of: